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Thursday, October 12, 2006

Freeing Of The Latin Mass?Curb your enthusiasm

The Catholic blogosphere has literally been on fire with this news. This news report, that news report. Things sure do look promising, but then again, we all got snake-bit a little less than a year ago.

As promising as the initial reports are (and their very promising!)... I'm going to try my best and keep my enthusiasm in check until Il Papa hisself comes out with the official word. ("Il Papa hisself", interesting combination of Italian and Southern, wouldn't you say? Stop it, Caveman... you're just being silly now.)

Anyhow, a couple of things I have been pondering (I ponder a lot lately);

1. If and when the TLM (Traditional Latin Mass) is freed, is it really because of what the American papers say? Specifically, to placate the "ultraconservatives" (read: SSPX)?

I for one, believe that speculation is unbelievably shortsighted. Why would The Holy Father make such a move to keep an incredibly small demographic happy, and in turn, alienate a huge percentage of the Church's so-called "leadership"? Face it, most clerics in Western Europe and North America are openly hostile to the TLM. What makes anyone think that a universal indult will make them change their minds?

If and when the TLM is freed, I believe the real reason is this; to use my simplistic NASCAR analogy, if the new race car you're using isn't winning any races, it's time to go back to the old one that was. Yes, it really is that simple. Let's be honest... the New Mass has been an utter disaster.

Mark my words... if and when the TLM is freed, we'll see a fight (no pun intended) of Biblical proportions.

2. If and when the TLM is freed, how soon will the Roman Protestants, such as Mahoney, Weakland, Brown, Gumbleton, etc, Cross The Thames?

What the hell... why not? These individuals have been nothing more than ultra-liberal Anglicans for decades anyhow. Might as well make it official. And good riddance.

Vir,As usual, I agree. I like your race car analogy; I use New Coke (flop) versus Classic Coke (still around, still a success).

Yes, I think there will be a fight by the successors of Judas Iscariot, the modernists, and everyone else who hates the TLM (liturgical directors, feminists, church wreckovators, etc.). One of the biggest targets of their ire will be the good priests who know or will want to learn the Latin Mass. Count on their bishops or other superiors to make life miserable for them.

My prediction: once the TLM becomes more available so all the people who have never been exposed to it are given a taste of what devout and reverent worship is really like, you will see TLM congregations swell (creating a new and steady wave of priestly vocations) while New Mass "faith communities" dry up and disappear just like New Coke did.

Mr. Caveman,Ilive in North Carolina as well,and am hoping that if this Ispiration of The Holy Ghost comes true we will be able to celebrate the Mass of the Ages in the Raleigh area.Do you know of any prists that have been taught the Tridentine Mass,and would be willing to offer it?Also is there any church liturgically worthy,in its physical set up to have The Mass in.My wife and I are new to North Carolina,having recently moved from the Oh so Orthodox Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York.Lastly is Bishop Burbidge a Good bishop.Thank you and God Bless.Semper Fidelis Christus Rex 0352 Dan Hunter

Dan, I echo Caveman's response on your blog. I just ran across a statement on Catholics and voting by Bishop Burbidge on the diocesan website, which gives me more hope. While it's not all that blunt, there's no way Bishop Gossman would have stated anything remotely like it.

As for TLM, there is at least one more priest in the diocese who is capable of offering the TLM if the universal indult were to take effect. And he doesn't have quite the Southern-accented Latin of Fr. Parkerson ;)

It's no small irony that Rembert Weakland, OSB, former Archbishop of Milwaukee, ALLOWED the Old Rite celebration beginning 1990 (or so) and it has been in existence ever since.

The Old Rite Community has about 400 attendees at the Sunday High Mass, from about 200 families, all driving upwards of 5 miles one-way (some as many as 50 miles one-way).

Abp Dolan has agreed to institute an Oratory for the Old Rite, and will make efforts to bring in a priest from the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in the near future to serve as the pastor for the Oratory. (See: http://dad29.blogspot.com/2006/10/milwaukee-old-rite-mass-stepping-up.html)

It's not likely that the rumored Old Rite Indult will have much effect in the Milwaukee area due to the fact that it already exists and will assume a canonical status in the near future.

However, this may have an effect in Madison, and some other out-State areas of Wisconsin.

As to B-16's motive--I think it has partially to do with SSPX and with the "reform of the reform" which may be initiated in the next 2-3 years. Should the Old Rite be highly visible, its good points may well be incorporated into the "reform" envisioned by B-16.